Key Points
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appoints Prasoon Joshi as Prasar Bharati chairman
- Joshi served as Central Board of Film Certification chairperson since August 2017
- Prasar Bharati is India’s statutory public broadcaster operating AIR and Doordarshan
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday appointed noted lyricist and communications professional Prasoon Joshi as chairman of Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster.
The appointment places Joshi at the helm of the country’s public broadcasting network at a time when the organisation is expanding its digital presence and competing for audiences across television, radio and streaming platforms.
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Joshi has earlier served as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017 and has held leadership positions at McCann Worldgroup in India and the Asia-Pacific region. He has also served as a trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
According to the ministry, Joshi’s work spans literature, advertising, cinema and public communication, including film lyrics, brand campaigns and storytelling projects across multiple media formats.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Joshi’s appointment would bring “renewed energy” and a “fresh creative voice” to the public broadcaster.
Joshi is widely known for writing lyrics for Hindi films including Taare Zameen Par, Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Kesari. In advertising, he has worked on campaigns across consumer brands and public communication initiatives.
Prasar Bharati, established under the Prasar Bharati Act and operational since 1997, oversees All India Radio and Doordarshan, which together constitute India’s public broadcasting network.
All India Radio operates one of the world’s largest radio networks with services reaching urban and rural audiences in multiple languages and dialects, while Doordarshan runs national and regional television channels covering news, entertainment, education and cultural programming.
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The broadcaster has also been expanding its digital footprint through DTH distribution, archival initiatives and online streaming services. Recently, Prasar Bharati launched the Waves OTT platform to strengthen its free-to-air digital broadcasting offerings.
The appointment comes amid broader efforts by public broadcasters globally to adapt to shifting media consumption patterns, increasing competition from private television networks and digital streaming platforms, and rising demand for multilingual and on-demand content.
Joshi’s background across advertising, cinema and public communication could support Prasar Bharati’s efforts to modernise content presentation and strengthen audience engagement, particularly among younger viewers and digital-first consumers.
The government statement said Joshi’s experience in creative industries and public communication is expected to bring a different perspective to the organisation during a period of technological transformation in broadcasting.
Your Questions, Answered
Who is Prasoon Joshi?
Prasoon Joshi is a lyricist, writer and advertising professional. He served as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification since August 2017 and previously led McCann World Group India as chief executive officer.
What is Prasar Bharati?
Prasar Bharati is India’s statutory autonomous public service broadcaster, established under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. It operates All India Radio and Doordarshan, and has also launched the Waves OTT streaming platform.
Which ministry oversees Prasar Bharati?
Prasar Bharati operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ministry announced Prasoon Joshi’s appointment as the organisation’s chairman.
What was Prasoon Joshi’s previous government role?
Joshi served as chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, the statutory film certification body in India, since August 2017 before this appointment.